Morning journal and courier., 1887-03-03
MAKING LOVE IN MEXICO.
Not to be Compared with the Way we
 Do it In the States.

Do it In the States.
 From the San Francisco Chronicle
 Mexican ladies seldom go out without some one of the family or a servant. They do not have gentlemen visitors. There is no chance for gallant youth to burn the midnight oil or gas at his prospective father in-law's expense. If young man has been acquainted with girl from child hood, or by some accident is allowed to visit the family and becomes lover, he is immediately forbidden the house, and must continue his eourting as best he can. It is then the balcony is of service. sig nal is agreed upon, and the senorita with ears alert hears it, and appears upon the balcony and converses with her lover be- low in the street. Notes are secretly ex- changed, but never through the mail. To give you an idea of Mexican oourtship and how Cupid breaks down the barriers made by ignorance and superstition, I will ex- plain what is here termed 'playiEg the bsar." This is a very popular game-at least it seems so among the Mexicans. It is played by two persons, lady and gentlemen. Both are usually young in their teens as it were-though there are instances of the game being played by couples who had passed that period by sever alyears.
 A young man becomes smitten with a fair charmer at the opera or at church. He will stroll by the house with his eyes sx- pressive of the state of his heart, and if he should catch glimpse of his fair one he is happy. If he receives 8 smile he be- comes intoxicated with love and is ready to play the stbear" for an indefinite period of time. If the lady is seated on the bal cony when Romeo arrives upon the scene she usually withdraws, after exchanging glances with him. This programme is kept up for months. At last he receives 8 smile from fair Juliet. From smiles they get to exchanging few words. There have been actual cases where the bear has frolicked about for year or two before the fckle maid would exchange 8 word with him. Very often there are two or three bears cast ing longing eyes in the same direction. This frequently causes bad blood. As soon as the couple begin to know each others voices matters progress rapidly. After they arrive at an understanding the perseveriag lover hastens to the padre. The kind priest, ind ing that there is no reason for objection on either side, proceeds to intercede with the girls parents and gain him admission to the domiciIe of his lady love. As soon as a young man enters the house he is considered engaged to the daughter. A wedding quick ly follows and there is no more playing the bear' so far as that young man is concerned
 A great deal depends on the girl in this game. She can make it a short or a long game. There has been a case brought to my notice of a young man who has never missed an evening for nearly three years, and he is still only in the first stage of the game, po- sing or walking up and down in front of the senorita's home hoping to receive smile. Close observers say that so far she only con descends to let him see the least bit of her white dress through the half closed French windows that open on the balcony. He was asked why he played the bear so long when he met with so little encouragement. His reply was:
 ''Oh, love her so dearly! And she is so rich!" passed by house 8 few evenings since and saw lover standing in the shadow ot a friendly doorway. He had guitar. l moved off in the shadow to see the by-play. As the soft notes broke the quietude of the evening saw a window open in 8 house ad joining and a seno1ita step out on the balco- ny. The music continued for few moments and then ceased. I saw the fair one drop something over the balcony. The lover caught it and retired into the shadow again. strolled up the street, crossed over and went toward them. I saw he was holding something to his ear, and I knew telephone communication was perfect between those two loving hearts.
 There is no such thing as being introduced even though the lover be accompanied by relation. Should the parties meet on ths promenade and the relative desires to speal with his fair relative he excuses himself anc joins her, leaving the lover out in the cold as it were, until he gains admittance to he parents house through the intercession O the priest. If while walking in the Alame da or Zocolo he sees the object of his affec tions he keeps at a respectful distance, hop l ing that his pres snce may be notic ed by her | If while riding he sees her in g carriage, h. | places himself near as possible and feel l rewarded for his trouble if he catch glimps | of. her face at each turning or receives sl glance of recognition. An engagement | broken in Mexico is considered seriou matter. The lady is looked upon as dis praced and seldom has another suitor.